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Academic Year 2001/2002

Introduction to Modern European Political Philosophy
GOVT 338 SP

This course surveys major thinkers in political philosophy in Europe from the 17th to 19th centuries. Attention is given to the historical context of thinkers, their influence on one another, and the contemporary relevance of their thought. Topics addressed will include the relation between philosophy, language, and politics; the meaning and foundations of rights; the notion of property; the idea of social contract; the ideas of state sovereignty and individual autonomy; the role of reason in polit ics; the role of nature and natural law in politics; the concepts of liberty, equality, and justice; the idea of representation; the meaning of liberalism and the relationship between liberalism and democracy; the role of toleration, and the relation betw een identity, recognition, and politics.

MAJOR READINGS

Thomas Hobbes, LEVIATHAN
John Locke, SECOND TREATISE ON GOVERNMENT, Letter Concerning Toleration
David Hume, TREATISE ON HUMAN NATURE; moral and political essays
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, SOCIAL CONTRACT, "Discourse on Inequality", Essay on Origin of Languages
Imanuel Kant, GROUNDING FOR THE METAPHYSICS OF MORALS, "Perpetual Peace," "Theory and Practice"
J.S. Mill, ON LIBERTY
C.W.F. Hegel, THE PHILOSOPHY OF RIGHT
Karl Marx, "Communist Manifesto," "Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844," "On the Jewish Question"

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Three five page papers; a final exam.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2002

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